Steven Frank Wojtowicz, 32, repeatedly beat and choked the boy on Nov. 7 at a residence on Perkins Pond Road, saying he was going to kill the boy and his mother and bury them in a shallow grave and swamp, according to arrest papers.

"This assault on a helpless 4-year-old child is unconscionable and cannot be tolerated," District Attorney Janine Edwards said in a statement after the plea hearing.

Wojtowicz faces up to 30 years in jail and a $70,000 fine when he is sentenced June 1.

The boy suffered serious injuries to his head and face, in addition to petechial hemorrhaging that is consistent with choking. He was treated at an area hospital.

The hourlong attack was prompted by the defendant becoming upset with the boy's mother, Kristie Young.

Wojtowicz punched and slapped Young, then grabbed the child and repeatedly hit and threw him into the arm of a couch, saying he hoped to break the child's neck.

Young told police Wojtowicz hit her when she tried to intervene.

Wojtowicz also asked the boy "impossible questions" and repeatedly hit him in the head and face when the child could not answer them, arrest papers state.

Wojtowicz told the boy "he was the cause of all the problems in his life and ... it would be great if (the boy) were just not around."

Young and the child eventually managed to get away and to a neighbor's house, and the authorities were summoned.

Edwards said, "I'm pleased with the swift actions of the Pennsylvania State Police to apprehend and arrest Wojtowicz and for their thorough and professional investigation which resulted in the guilty plea by this defendant."

In an unrelated case, Wojtowicz pleaded guilty to a DUI count stemming from an incident Sept. 10, 2016.

The defendant was operating the vehicle, which also was occupied by three children, while under the influence of marijuana and alcohol.

His blood-alcohol content was 0.130. A driver in Pennsylvania is considered drunk at 0.08 percent.

Wojtowicz is in the county jail in lieu of $500,000 bail pending his sentencing.